Portable sink container
A portable container for use in a sink is described. The sink has predetermined inner dimensions and a sink drain. The sink drain has an inlet with predetermined inner dimensions. The container comprises a bottom, sides, and a top opening. The bottom has a drain. The container bottom is formed with outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of the sink such that the container may substantially fit in the sink. The container drain is formed protruding outwardly from the container bottom with an outlet, and, the outlet has outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of the sink drain inlet such that the container drain outlet may substantially fit within the sink drain inlet.
The present invention relates to open top portable containers such as pots, pans and small tubs etc.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONPortable open top containers such as pots, pans and small tubs have been around for hundreds, if not thousands of years, and used for various purposes including carrying and or containment of items in solid and/or liquid forms, and for washing or cleaning something in a contained environment. The latter being contemplated herein whereby one may be able to wash or clean something with a washing agent such as water in a container and thus contain the washing agent and any washing residue in the container. For example, if one was painting with latex paint using rollers and a brush and wanted to clean the rollers and brush, it's common for one to wash paint rollers and brushes in a household sink with water. This usually makes a big mess leaving paint and washing residue in the sink, thus requiring the sink to be thoroughly cleaned after the rollers and brushes are cleaned. Now, If one were to use a small open top container placed in the sink, this could minimize the mess and reduce paint and washing residue in the sink, but the paint and washing residue would still end up in the sink if the container were overfilled and/or emptied into the sink when done. Also, the container would still have to be washed out with the cleaning agent, and washing residue would end up in the sink again if dumped there. Accordingly, there is a need for containers that may be used for carrying and/or containment of items in solid and/or liquid forms and for washing or cleaning something in a contained environment, with the added provision(s) to control overfill, disposal of the washing agent and residue, and the cleaning of the container.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONIn one example embodiment, the present invention is a portable container for use in a kitchen sink. The kitchen sink has predetermined inner dimensions and a sink drain. The sink drain has an inlet with predetermined inner dimensions. The container comprises a bottom, sides, and a top opening. The bottom has a drain. The container bottom and sides are formed with outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of the kitchen sink such that the container may substantially fit in the kitchen sink. The container drain is formed protruding outwardly from the container bottom with an outlet, and, the outlet has outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of the sink drain inlet such that the container drain outlet may substantially fit in the sink drain inlet.
Considering the present invention above, Applicant considers the following objectives.
It is an important objective of the present invention that it be structured for carrying items in solid and/or liquid forms.
It is another important objective of the present invention that it be structured for containment (at least temporarily) of items in solid and/or liquid forms.
It is another important objective of the present invention that it be structured for washing and cleaning something therein.
It is another important objective of the present invention that some preferred embodiments be structured small enough to substantially fit in a household sink; and, be structured large enough for standard size paint rollers to be washed therein.
It is yet another objective of the present invention that it be cost-efficient to manufacture and commercially viable.
The present invention is more fully understood when the specification herein is taken in conjunction with the drawings appended hereto, wherein:
The various drawings provided herein are for the purpose of illustrating possible embodiments of the present invention and not for the purpose of limiting same. Therefore, the drawings herein represent only a few of the many possible embodiments, variations and/or applications of the present invention.
Referring now to both
Referring now to
Also, in
Applicant contemplates many uses for the present invention portable sink container including the washing and cleaning of various items for example paint brushes and rollers. It's common for people to wash their paint brushes and rollers in a kitchen sink, which makes a big mess in the kitchen sink requiring a thorough cleaning of the kitchen sink after the brushes and rollers are cleaned. The present invention portable sink container eliminates this requirement. Because the cleaning of paint rollers and brushes is considered, some embodiments of the present invention container should be large enough for a 9 inch standard roller to be cleaned lying down therein. Accordingly, in some preferred embodiments of the present invention portable sink container, the container has at least one inner across width dimension equal to or greater than 9 inches to facilitate the cleaning of a standard 9 inch roller lying down. And as mentioned before, many kitchen sinks have a standard top opening with at least one across width dimension of about 16 inches. Accordingly, if the present invention portable sink container is to substantially fit in a kitchen sink with a standard top opening, and be large enough to facilitate the cleaning of a standard 9 inch roller laying down, such an embodiment of the present invention container would be structured having at least one inner width dimension equal to or greater than nine (9) inches; and, at least one outer width dimension equal to or less than sixteen (16) inches.
Applicant further contemplates some embodiments of the present invention having special features such as cavities and protrusions to facilitate drainage and drying of a roller or rollers in an upright position. Applicant further contemplates some embodiments of the present invention having special features such as hooks or devices on the sidewalls (not shown) to temporarily hold a brush in an upright position for drainage and drying. Applicant further contemplates some preferred embodiments of the present invention having means for temporarily stopping drainage from the container. That means could simply be a drain plug physically connected to the container as shown in
When considering the present invention, simplicity and obviousness should not be confused or considered the same. Accordingly, the novelty and complexity of the present invention must be measured by the combination of structure and function resulting from the many interrelated objectives set forth herein.
Upon reading and understanding the specification of the present invention described above, modifications and alterations will become apparent to those skilled in the art. It is intended that all such modifications and alterations be included insofar as they come within the scope of the patent as claimed or the equivalence thereof.
Claims
1-20. (canceled)
21. A portable container for use in a sink, said sink having predetermined inner dimensions and a sink drain, said sink drain having an inlet with predetermined inner dimensions, said container comprising a bottom, sides, and a top opening, said bottom comprising a drain, said container bottom being formed with outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of said sink such that said container may substantially fit in said sink, said container drain being formed protruding outwardly from said container bottom with an outlet, and, said outlet having outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of said sink drain inlet such that said container drain outlet may substantially fit in said sink drain inlet.
22. The portable container of claim 21, wherein the outlet of said container drain has a maximum outer width dimension, and that maximum outer width dimension is equal to or less than four (4) inches.
23. The portable container of claim 21, wherein the container has at least one outer width dimension equal to or less than sixteen (16) inches.
24. The portable container of claim 21, wherein said container has at least one inner width dimension equal to or greater than nine (9) inches.
25. The portable container of claim 21, wherein the container has at least one outer width dimension equal to or less than sixteen (16) inches; and, at least one inner width dimension equal to or greater than nine (9) inches.
26. The portable container of claim 21, wherein said container drain is provided means for straining solid matter from exiting the container thereof.
27. The portable container of claim 21, wherein said container is formed with at least two opposing sides substantially parallel to each other.
28. The portable container of claim 21, wherein said container is molded with said drain molded therein.
29. The portable container of claim 21, wherein the container is provided means for temporarily stopping drainage from said drain.
30. A portable container for use in a sink, said sink having predetermined inner dimensions and a sink drain, said sink drain having an inlet with predetermined inner dimensions, said container comprising a bottom, sides, and a top opening, said bottom comprising a drain, said container bottom being formed with outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of said sink such that said container may substantially fit in said sink, said container drain being formed protruding outwardly from said container bottom with an outlet, said outlet having outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of said sink drain inlet such that said container drain outlet may substantially fit in said sink drain inlet, the outlet of said container drain having a maximum outer width dimension equal to or less than four (4) inches, and, the container having at least one outer width dimension equal to or less than sixteen (16) inches.
31. The portable container of claim 30, wherein said container has at least one inner width dimension equal to or greater than nine (9) inches.
32. The portable container of claim 30, wherein said container drain is provided means for straining solid matter from exiting the container thereof.
33. The portable container of claim 30, wherein said container is formed with at least two opposing sides substantially parallel to each other when viewed from a top view thereof.
34. The portable container of claim 30, wherein said container is molded with said drain molded therein.
35. The portable container of claim 30, wherein the container is provided means for temporarily stopping drainage from said drain.
36. The portable container of claim 31, wherein said container drain is provided means for straining solid matter from exiting the container thereof.
37. The portable container of claim 31, wherein said container is formed with at least two opposing sides substantially parallel to each other.
38. The portable container of claim 31, wherein said container is molded with said drain molded therein.
39. The portable container of claim 31, wherein the container is provided means for temporarily stopping drainage from said drain.
40. A portable container for use in a sink, said sink having predetermined inner dimensions and a sink drain, said sink drain having an inlet with predetermined inner dimensions, said container comprising a bottom, sides, and a top opening, said bottom comprising a drain, said container bottom being formed with outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of said sink such that said container may substantially fit in said sink, said container drain being formed protruding outwardly from said container bottom with an outlet, said outlet having outer dimensions less than the predetermined inner dimensions of said sink drain inlet such that said container drain outlet may substantially fit in said sink drain inlet, the outlet of said container drain having a maximum outer width dimension equal to or less than four (4) inches, the container having at least one outer width dimension equal to or less than sixteen (16) inches, the container having at least one inner width dimension equal to or greater than nine (9) inches, said container drain being provided means for straining solid matter from exiting the container thereof, and, said container being molded with said drain molded therein and at least two opposing sides substantially parallel to each other when viewed from a top view thereof.
Type: Application
Filed: May 4, 2010
Publication Date: Nov 10, 2011
Inventors: Phillip Tuosto (Stewartsville, NJ), David Cain (Stewartsville, NJ)
Application Number: 12/799,901
International Classification: E03F 5/14 (20060101);